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Religious Media Use Among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites

Findings from the National Survey of American Life

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of watching religious television programs and listening to religious radio programs. Data are taken from the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative study of African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and non-Hispanic Whites. Several significant findings were noted. Both African Americans and Black Caribbeans watched religious television programs and listened to religious radio programs significantly more frequently than non-Hispanic whites. These differences in electronic religious media consumption were particularly large, especially listening to religious radio programming. Among African Americans and Black Caribbeans, several significant demographic differences in frequency of consuming religious programming (e.g., age, gender, region, marital status, immigration status) emerged. Lastly, our analysis found that consuming electronic religious programming did not substitute for attending church service but, instead, complemented weekly service attendance.

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Acknowledgements

The data collection on which this study is based was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH57716) with supplemental support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Michigan. The preparation of this manuscript was supported by grants from the National Institute on Institute of Mental Health to Drs. Chatters and Taylor (R01-MH082807), and (R01-MH084963) to Dr. Chatters and from the National Aging for Dr. Taylor (P30-AG15281).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Robert Joseph Taylor & Linda M. Chatters

  2. School of Public Health, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Linda M. Chatters

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  1. Robert Joseph Taylor
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  2. Linda M. Chatters
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Correspondence to Robert Joseph Taylor.

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Taylor, R.J., Chatters, L.M. Religious Media Use Among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites. J Afr Am St 15, 433–454 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-010-9144-z

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